raffy
Nov 5, 01, 12:39 pm
American Classic Voyages, which canceled most sailings and filed for Chapter 11 reorganization Oct. 19, is offering no refunds, leaving customers to turn to credit-card companies, travel insurers or federal bankruptcy court.
The company had operated the Patriot and the Independence in Hawaii, under two subsidiary companies; four riverboats under its Delta Queen Steamboat line on Midwest, South and Northwest rivers; and, since May, the Cape May Light under its Delta Queen Coastal Voyages line along the eastern U.S. and Canada coast.
A message on the company's Web site, www.amcv.com, (http://www.amcv.com,) said the company would continue running only Delta Queen steamboat and would lay off 2,150 people. (Its customer telephone hot line simply referred callers to the Web site last week.)
Some cruise lines, including Holland America and Windstar, are offering American Classic customers discounted rates.
American Classic was the second major cruise company in a month to file under Chapter 11, after Renaissance Cruises.
The U.S.-flag line said bookings dropped by half after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which it called "a devastating blow." Before the Chapter 11 filing, several travel insurers had stopped writing policies for the cruise line, citing its debt risk.
Although some credit-card and insurance companies might cover customers booked on the canceled cruises, those not covered must file claims with the Clerk of the Court for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware -
a procedure that can take months or even years.
Withdrawal of the Hawaii ships, which carried nearly 2,200 passengers a week to the islands in peak season, will leave Norwegian Cruise Line as the only year-round cruise operator in Hawaii when its Norwegian Sky begins operating there in December. (Others visit seasonally.)
The company had operated the Patriot and the Independence in Hawaii, under two subsidiary companies; four riverboats under its Delta Queen Steamboat line on Midwest, South and Northwest rivers; and, since May, the Cape May Light under its Delta Queen Coastal Voyages line along the eastern U.S. and Canada coast.
A message on the company's Web site, www.amcv.com, (http://www.amcv.com,) said the company would continue running only Delta Queen steamboat and would lay off 2,150 people. (Its customer telephone hot line simply referred callers to the Web site last week.)
Some cruise lines, including Holland America and Windstar, are offering American Classic customers discounted rates.
American Classic was the second major cruise company in a month to file under Chapter 11, after Renaissance Cruises.
The U.S.-flag line said bookings dropped by half after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which it called "a devastating blow." Before the Chapter 11 filing, several travel insurers had stopped writing policies for the cruise line, citing its debt risk.
Although some credit-card and insurance companies might cover customers booked on the canceled cruises, those not covered must file claims with the Clerk of the Court for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware -
a procedure that can take months or even years.
Withdrawal of the Hawaii ships, which carried nearly 2,200 passengers a week to the islands in peak season, will leave Norwegian Cruise Line as the only year-round cruise operator in Hawaii when its Norwegian Sky begins operating there in December. (Others visit seasonally.)